Chevron, stripes, checkerboard — even painted lily pads — these cool floors make a colorful statement right under your feet.

Playful Pattern

Playful Pattern

In this Manhattan apartment’s kitchen, designers William Diamond and Anthony Baratta added a playful citrus pattern to bright blue floors. "Our clients — a couple in their forties with two little girls — wanted something zippy and up-to-date, but that still cast an admiring eye on the past," says Diamond. The lacquered chair is from Room, the Saarinen table from Knoll. Microwave and wall oven by Viking.

Purple

Purple

"I started out as a painter, and I'd always add purple to other colors to give them depth and richness," designer Peter Vaughn says. "Lavender reflects light well, which is why you see it all over Scandinavia. In the depth of winter, it's a very cheerful color to walk into."